Tractor.



H. H. BATES.

TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1. I916.

Patented Feb. 5343, 1913i 3 SHEETS-SHEEY 1.

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H. H. BATES.

TRACTOR.

APPLlCATION FILED SEPT-7.19M.

Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

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H. H. BAT

TRACTOR APPLICATION FILED SLPT- 7. 1916.

Iatehted Feb. 25; 1919,

' mzaaevs osirso STATES PATENT OFFICE,

smear H. sarss, or JULIET, rumors.

TRAGTUEQ.

essors,

To all whom 15 may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY H. BATES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Joliet, in the, county of Will and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tractors, oivvliich the following is a specification.

The oresent invention has to do with tractors and particularly with devices of thiskiucl which are specially well adaptecl for use on the farm. It will, however, ap-

' pear from a detailed study of he coustruc- 7*" an to be presently disclosed that the featurescf the present invention are in no wise limited to use in tractors for this particular class of service.

It is very desirable in machioes of this type to make provision for the turning of very sharp angles, so as to great iiexxbility in the steering function. 'lhe: fore, one of the objects of the invention is to provide a construetiou by means of which a very sharp angle can be turned with a minimum eil'oi i; on the part of the operator.

It is also very desirable in machines of this type to make provision for easy riding over rough grouse, This is especially (lo-- sirable in case of maclziues of this type which are to be used. in connection with the cultivation of fields which have already been plowed, although, of course, the desirability of sccurii'ig smooth riding is also present 111 anv case where the machine is traveling over rough ground. Therefore, another object of the invention is to garovirle a construction such that will ride over iuequeli ties in the surface of the groumlwith a minimum amount of movement of: the body of the vehicle in a vertical direction. More particularly, this feature of the invention lies reference ;o a construction in which use is mails of the equalisisgpriociple of three suspeusion,so that vertical.

movement or oscillation ie frame of the machine will be corresponclro ly relic-weed.

Another feature of the invention has to do with the performance of the equalizing function is the forward portion of the machine as distinguished from the rear portion thereof. This will enable the machine to approach and ride onto an elevation or (is pressiou in the curiae-cor the groimcl with e amoiuit efiort,

()ther objects am? uses of will apgzesr cm is detailed description or the same wliicl in the features of Specificatiomof Letters laceut.

the invention Patented Feb, 25, 1 918.

Agplication flleil Sleptember 7, 1916. Serial No' 118,855.

Fig, 2 shows'a side elevation of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a front elevation of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4; shows in enlarged detail a fragmentery view of the lower portion of the radiator, the front portion of the fraxm f the machine, and the equalizer frame.

Before proceeding with the detailed (leseription of the construction illustrated in 'w drawings, 1' wish to point out first that l have shown the features of the present invention as being applied to a tractor of the general type which is shown in Letters l ateut of the United States, No. 1,179,066, which was issued, to me April 11, 1916. Gortairi of the features of construction disclosed in case are also shown in my co-pcmling a uplioatioos for Letters Patent of the United States on improvements in tractors, Serial No. 3?,512, which was filed July 1, 1915, ancl issued Au ust 29, 1916, as Patent No. 1,196,501", and berial No. 49,260, which was filed September 7, i915, as wellas my application for Letters Patent of the United States on improvements in Control mechanism for tractors and the like, Serial No. 66,520, which was filed December 13, 1915, issued June 12, 1917, as Patent X0. 1.2293565. l iesire to state at this point, however, that while the features of the present invention are herein illustrated as bein applied to tractors of the types (llSClOSe( in the said various applications and issued Letters Patent, still I do not by such illustration limit myself to their application to such particular forms of tractor, except as I may hereafter do so in the claims.

Bearing the foregoing facts in mind, 1 will now describe in detail the particular construction illustrated in the drawings. The frame of the machine comprises generally the side rails 5 and 6 Which'are connected together at various points throughout their length so as to provide a substantial framework. These rails may be connected together for this purpose in any suitable maii iieras 'means of the bed of the en 7, the ied of the change special 'mecha- 8, the 1'a -ket 9, etc. Connccted to the bottom. portion of each of the rails 5'and 6 is a downwardly extending bracket 10, within which is journaled a main driving wheel 11. Suitable operative connections are provided from the engine 7 through the change speed mechanism 8 to the driving wheel 11, said connections being under control of the operator as by means of the hand wheel 12. This hand wheel is illustrated as comprising a portion of the rearwardly extending control mechanism 13. Said control mechanism also includes a hand wheel 14, to which is operatively connected a sprocket 15. The drivin wheel 11 is shown driving a caterpi lar chain 1.6, which chain rides over an end pulley 17 journaled with respect to the forward ends of the arms 18. Said arms 18 are pivoted to the brackets 10 at the points 19, so that they may oscillate up and down on said pivotal points. Springs within the boxes 20 exert a downward thrust on the arms 18 with respect to the frame of the machine thereby transmitting a portion of the 10a to the caterpillar 16 through the medium of the arms 18.

Rearwardly extending from the arms 18 are the draft rods 21, the forward ends'of which are ivoted to the arms 18 at the points 22. he rear ends of the draft rods 21 are connected together and supported by the vertical draw bar 23. The upper end of said draw l/ar is connected to the main frame of the machine by a pivotal oint 24. The arran ement is such that the raft exerted by t e lower portion of the bar 23 is transmitted through the-draft rods 21 on lines which pass through the pivotal points 22 and beneath the pivotal )oints 19, so that the pull or draft in itsel tends to swing the arms 18 downwardly, thus increasing the amount of pressure on the caterpillar 16. Certain of the constructions thus far described are illustrated and described in detail in one or the other of the aforementioned Letters Patent and applications for Letters Patent of the United States.

During the travel of the tractor over rough ground, the forward ends of the arms 18 will oscillate up and down, thus also carrying the forward ends of the draft rods 21 up and down. These draft rods, in the construction illustrated herein, pass beneath the journals 25 of the driving wheel 11, and in case of excessive oscillation of the front ends of the said draft rods, their central portions will be carried up into engagement with the said journals. In order to permit the draft rods to bend or deflect under these conditions, I have shown them as being provided with the joints or hinges .26 particularly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings in this case. p

In carrying into effect the features of the present invention, I provide what may be In the particular construction illustrated in the drawings, this equalizer frame is of U-shaped construction, being designated in its entiret by the numeral 27. It is conveniently )llllt up from a air of angle or channel bars 2? and 29 w llCll are rigidly oined together in any suitable manner. In

the construction illustrated, such joining to- "ether is effected by means of the journal brackets 30, 31, and 32, as well as various cross pieces 33 and 34.

The equalizer frame is pivoted to the main frame in such a manner that, during the travel of the-machine over rough ground. the equalizer frame may oscillate with res ect to the main frame. The pivoting illustrated is effected by means of the brackets 35 and 36 which are carried inwardly to points adjacent to the side bars .3 and 6, to which side bars the said brackets are journaled or )ivoted by the brackets 37 and 38. so that the equalizer ,frame may oscillate about the horizontal transverse axis 39..hesl shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In the particular arrangement illustrated, the equalizer frame carries three wheels, namely, a center wheel 40 and side wheels -11 and 42. Also, in the particular arrangement. illustrated all of these wheels are journnled so that they may turn about substantially vertical axes during the steering function. This journaling is effected by means of the studs 43. 44, and 45, which extend upwardly through and arc journaled in the hearing plates or brackets 30. 31, and 32.

Reference to Figs. 1 and 2 shows that thc wheel 40'ridcs in advance of the horizontal axis 39, whereas the wheels 41 and 42 ride behind said axis. Consequently the load of the forward end of the tractor frame will be transmitted to the ground through the medium of all three of said wheels. Furthern'iore, any rising or falling of thc wheel 40 with respect to the wheels 41 and 42 will be accompanied by a very much smaller degree of vertical movement of the front portion of the tractor frame, the ratio between the movement of the front portion of the tractor frame as compared to the movement of the wheel 40 being n'ieasurcd substantially as the ratio of the distance from the wheels 41 and 42 to the axis 39 as compared to the distance from said wheels to the wheel 40. In the particular construction illustrated, this ratio is approximately The wheel 40 will ordinarily be used dur ingzthe;.sieermgoperation, and the wheels 41 and'42 may or may not be used for a similar purpose. I will state that in the pan tic'ular construction illustrated, the Wheels 40, 41, and 42 are connected together in such a manner that they all operate during the steering function, butthis is done largely as a matter of convenience, and one or more of said Wheels may be treated and used in many cases trailers or simply caster Wheels. In fact it will be observed from an examination of'particularly Fig. 2 that the wheels 41 and 42 are caster-ed backwardly with respect to the journals li and 45, so that they will always trail and follow in the direction of travel. I

In the particular construction illustrated the steerin function is performed by the wheel 14 w ich is operatively connected to the sprocket 15 as has been eviously explained. Extending forwartly along the main frame of the, machine is the rod e6 journaled atthe point 47. The said rod has the s)rocket 48 which is connected to the sproc et 15;-by means of a chain 49. Journaled on the equalizerframe 27 is another rod 50 which is journaled at the 'points 51 and 52. The rods 50 and 46 are con nected together through the medium of a universal joint 53 and a sliding connection 54. Consequently the rods ll-fiend 50 are always operatively connected together even during the oscillation'o'f the equalizer frame,

()n the rod 50 is a beveled pinion 55 meshing "with the beveled gear 56 on the uppu' end of the stuh'shaft 57. The Fold stub shaft is journaled in the equalizer frame.

and at its lower end it carries a sprocket wheel 58. The stud 43. carries a sprocket wheel 59 connected to the sprocket wheel 58 by means of a chain 60, so that the rotation of the rod 46 will serve to turn-the wheel 40 for the steering function.

When the wheels 41 and 42am; also to be used during the'steerin'g function. the studs 44 and 45 will be connected to the stud 43 or to the steering mechanismin a proper manner, It will be observed that, in order to secure a perfect turning operation, the amount of turn of each of the wheels 40, 41 and 42 should be different from the amount of turn of the other of said wheels. so that all of said wheels will have a tendency to turn the tractor about the same center of turn at one side or the other depending upon the direction of turn. In other Words, the several steering Wheels should be equalized during the steering function. I have, therefore, illustrated an arrangement whereby this result may be accomplished. This arrangement includes the bell crank 61 and 62 pivoted to the brackets 88 and 34 respectively. The stud t3. carries the lever arm 63 which is connected to the bell cranks 61 and 62 by the links 6 1 and 5 respectively. The studs 44 and 45 carry the lever arms 66 and 67 respectively which are connected to the other arms of the said bell cranks by means of the link: 68 and 69 respectively. I

It will be evident that, with this arrangement, the wheels 41 and 42 will be turned for the steering function simultaneously with the wheel It was preriously explained that it is desirable to no relate the turning of tie'wheels ll and 42 to the turning of the Wheel a0 that all ofsaid wheels will tend to turn the tractor about the some center. so that the turning operation will be performed in the easiest manner possible. When turning toward the right hand, le-ok-- ing in the direction of travel, the Wheel .1 should be turned ill the sharpest angle,'llie wheel 40 at a slightly less angle, and the wheel 42 at a sill smaller angle, in order to cause all of said wheels to eliect the turn ing tendency on the same center.

Conversely, when turning toward the left hand, looking in the direction of trai l, the wheel 1-2 should he turned a greater amount than the wheel 40, and the wheel 40 shon. be turneda greater amount than the wheel 41. These results i secure by the use of the bell cranks 61 and 62, in conjunction with the crank arms 66 and 67. By properly prcportioning the vurious arnis of the bell cranks as compared to the crank arms 66 and 67, and by setting ti arms of the be i cranks at the proper angles, the aforementioned cou'ipensatiou may be secured when turning in either direction.

in riding over obstructions or inequaliti 1 in the surface of the ground, the equalizer frame will til'r or oscillate with respect to the main frame on the horizontal transverse axis 39 in the manner which has been pre/ riously explained. in case one of the wheels of the equalizer frame should strike an unusually high obstruction, it n'iight occur that the equalizer frame would be tilted so .ll' as to imperil the stability of the entire inaehine. in such case there would he. a tendency for the machine to turn over, the equalizcr frame doubling up as it were by swinging on the axis 39. l have, therefore, provided the chains 70 and 71 which connect the forward portions of the main frame to the arms of' the equalizer frame. in the con struction illustrated, the outer ends of said chains connect to brackets 72 and 73 carried by the angle bar 29 of the equalizer frame, and the inner ends of said chains are connected to brackets 74- and 75. These brackets 74 and 75 are connected to the forward ends of the rails 5 and 6 respectively. The brackets 74.- and 75 also serve as a convenient mounting for a radiator. The lower portion of the radiator seats down between said brackets and the radiator is supported by them, springs 76 and 'll' serving to cushion spect to t izer frame of U-shaped formation in the forward portion of the machine, a pi otal connection between the arms of 'said equalizer frame and the forward por ion of the main frame permitting the equalizer frame to oscillate with respect to the mainframe about a horizontal transverse axis,-a steering wheel pivotally mounted with respect to the central portion of the equalizer fral e,

a steerin wheel pivotally mounted with refiie end of each arm of the equalizer frame, he aforementioned pivotal connection between the mainframe and the equalizer frame being rearward of the first mentioned steering wheel and forward .of the second mentioned steering wheels, and means for simultaneousl turning all of the steering wheels to er orm the steering function. 2. In a mac ine'of the class described, the combination with a main frame, of an equalizer frame pivoted to the main frame to oscillate about a horizontal transverse'axis with respect to the main frame, three finer-- ing wheels pivotally mounted on the equah' izer frame at points in advance of and behind the aforementioned pivotal connections between the main frame and t e equalizer frame, and means for turning 'll of the steering wheels simultaneously in the steering function.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a main frame having driv-' ing means in its rear portion, of an equalizer frame pivoted to the main frame to oscillate about a horizontal transverse axis, a steering wheel pivoted to the equalizer frame centrally with respect to the axis of the machine, and other wheels pivoted to the equal. izer frame one on each side of the main frame, the s"eering'wheel and the last mentacaevs a V tioned wheels being on opposite sides of the aforementioned transverse horizontal axis.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a main frame having .driving means in its rear portion, of an equalizer frame pivoted thereto and comprising a self-contained truck, a steering 7 wheel in said truck, and suitable supporting wheels the truck on the opposite side of .the pivotal mounting.

5. In a machine of the class describeihthe means in its rear portion, of a self-contained ruck, a pivotal connection between said ruck and the main frame permitting oscillation about a transverse horizontal axis. a steering ivotallv mounted centra ly of the truck and in its forward portion, and supporting wheels pivotally mounted at each side of the 'truglg'andbehind the line of oscillati'on of the truck with respect to the main frameqi 1- 6-. In a michino of the class dcscribed,the

eombinationflwitln a main frame, of drivin r means in thelrearyoflion of the same, a sel contained truck-a jacentto the forward portion of the mainframe, a pivotal connection between the and said truck, a steering wheelwi nythe truck centrally with respect to the 'fframe, and suitable suprting wheels att e'sides of the truck, and behind the pivotalfconnection between the main frame and the" truck.

7. In amachine ofth'e class described, the

flcom'binationwith a main frame, of a supporti and drivingdevice, in the rear pora steering wheel in thefortiono the same, ward portion of the same and centrally thereofland a supporting wheel on each side of the machine,said supportin wheels and the steering wheel being pivota ly connected to the main frame to oscillate about a horizontal transverse axis, which axis lies between the supporting wheels and the steering wheel.

HARRY H. BATES.

' Witnesses:

THOMAS A. BANNINO, Jr., FRANCES M. Fnos'r.

combination of a main frame having driving 

